Engaged Buddhism Resources, Books, Films etc

[Susmita Barua]

I am reading the New Social Face of Buddhism by Ken Jones, founding member of the UK Network of Engaged Buddhists. I recommend it highly along with Donald Rothberg's the Engaged Spiritual Life.

Just came across this comprehensive resource list on EB Resources on Dharmanet

I would have liked to see some blogs on Engaged buddhism. The form for submission did not go through. Thanks to Dharmanet.org for compiling it. Please do me a favor by searching and sharing my Eb blog Deep Conscious Capitalism.
vid
Thich Naht Hahn is credited with inventing the term engaged buddhism. He wrote in a 1983 BPF newsletter, "Buddhism means to be awake - mindful of what is happening in one's body, feelings, mind and the world. If you are awake you cannot do otherwise than act compassionately to help relieve suffering you see arouns you. So buddhism must be engaged in the world. If it is not engaged then it is not Buddhism." however EB remains scattered and incoherent despite its long history in the East and its vitality and diversity in the West. Christopher Queen who compiled and surveyed the scene of EB in both Eand West comments, "the general pattern of belief and practice that has come to be called engaged Buddhism is unpreceedented. ..as a style of ethical practice, engaged Buddhism may be seen as a new paradigm of Buddhist liberation....a fourth yana in the evolution of Dhamma."

I am yet to check the youtube videos by Robert Thurman. Great! I just watched one. Way to go Robert!

cheerful metta

[Susmita Barua]

Thankyou Brenda. I remember writing to you or Georg sometime ago after reading his awesome Yoga Tradition book. It was quite helpful to me in understanding my own self-guided path and the vastness of the yoga tradition. Great to see you here. Namaste.

[Ryan Vong]

Thanks for these additions. I do hope more people blog about engaged Buddhism to elevate the awareness of our activities.

[Melvin Forrester]

When I read the title "Engaged Buddhism Resources, Books, Films etc" I immediatly thought about my current project. Many years ago the UN sponsored a "Year of the Religions" in which one film was selected to represent each of the major religions. I can't remember the name of the film that represented Buddhism, but there was a separate film selected to represent Zen. Surprisingly the film did not come from Japan or China but Korea. The film was transmitted over the TV, which I recorded on VHS tape. My current project is to transfer this VHS recording to DVD, naturally for private consumption. But I am so impressed by this film that I want to share it with you.

Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left For The East?
1989, Korea
Director: Yong-kyun Bae

http://www.koreafilm.org/feature/home_2004_2.asp


Synopsis

Haejin happens to kill a bird that had a partner, an event in which he comes to face the dichotomy of life and death in this world for the first time in his life. He consequently falls into fundamental questions of life: death and frailty, attachment and agony, sin and fear. The film deals deeply with human experiences of life and death, good and evil, and creation and suffering. Ultimately, the film holds to the Buddhist teaching that life itself is emptiness: since the world was never born, it also never dies.

A Reviewers comment:

If you're a Buddhist, or in any way interested in Buddhism, you must not miss it for anything! If however you're not interested in the least about Buddhist philosophy, but ARE interested in cinematic excellence, see it. It's a masterpiece!

Reviews

"Ravishingly beautiful." - New York Times
"Extraordinary!" -Boston Globe

Where to buy DVD?

http://www.milestonefilms.com/movie.php/bodhi/

[Susmita Barua]

Melvin good luck with your project and thanks for sharing it. I also like to share a movie i watched with Sangha members last night on Tibetan yogi Milarepa. Quite enchanting with breathtaking scenary and dramatic life story of Milarepa. We watched the first part of Milarepa's life, the second part is not out yet it seems.

Peace
http://milarepamovie.com/

[Ryan Vong]

Wow. This movie looks amazing. Thanks for sharing!

[山结实 Shan Jiēshi]

the good: a new movie about DOgen can be found in youtube and soon released
the bad: www.zenduke.com